Budget Conference Starts With Optimistic Words, Usual Split on Taxes

The budget conference committee met Wednesday, when Murray handed off the gavel to Ryan.

“In concrete terms, the difference between the House and Senate budgets is about $90 billion. Believe it or not, that’s just about what published reports say the Treasury loses every year, alone, from these offshore tax havens,” Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said. “Just these few examples could save more than enough to resolve the differences in the House and Senate budget plans, at least in the first year.”

Most of the real work won’t be done in public conference meetings, which is a good thing since the panel will not reconvene until Nov. 13, Ryan announced Wednesday morning. That’s because the House and Senate are once again operating on different schedules, with the House expected to take a recess next week.

“I hope we will hold a number of open sessions to discuss proposals in considerable detail so that we really understand how they would affect ordinary people and American prosperity,” said House Appropriations ranking member Nita M. Lowey, D-N.Y.

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March 13, 2015

Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., right, hugs Harold Schaitberger, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, after the Congressman spoke at the IAFF's Legislative Conference General Session at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill, March 9, 2015. The day featured addresses by members of Congress and Vice President Joe Biden.